Welding plant.



N. J. ANDERSON. .WELDING PLANT. APPLIOATION FILED M1127. 1911.

1,047, 140, Patented Dec. 17', 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N. J. ANDERSON. WELDING PLANT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.27, 1911. 149047,

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. N. J. ANDERSON'.

WELDING PLANT. APPLICATION FILED 11111.27. 1911.

Patented Dec.17,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N...r. ANDERSON.

WELDING PLANT. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27. 1911.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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rrED sTAlnsATENT oFFrcE.

NEWTON .TANDERSON, 0F COFFEYVILLE, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ANDERSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

WELDING PLANT.

notaire.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17,1912.

Application led January 27, 1911. Serial No. 605,091.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, NEWTON J ANDERSON,

yor other tool to be mixed and thereby form the heating fuel for" the tool.

1n carrying out the .objects of the invention generally stated above, it will be understood, of course, that the essential features of the same'are necessarily susceptible of changes in details and, structural arrangements, one preferred and practical embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the iin-v Fig. 2 1s al proved fuel generating plant. fragmentary vertical sectional view of the acetylene generator. Figs. 3 and a are fragmentary sectional views showing in detail the manner of supplying water to the acetylene generator. Fig. 5v is a similar view showing a valve-controlled clean-out opening in the acetylene generator. Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary views in detail of parts of the carbid feeding mechanism. Fig. 8

is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 Fig. 2, the valve and stem being omitted. Fig. 9 isa detail Sec tional view of a stuffing box for the stern of the carbid feed controlling valve. Fig. 10 is a similar view of the controlling valve. Fig. 11 is a side elevation partly in section of the oxygen producing retort. Fig. 12

a fragmentary end elevation of said retort. Fig. 13 is a vertical section through one of the fuel washers. Figs. 14 and 15 are, respectively, longitudinal and transverse sections ,showing one of the check valves used vin the fuel pipes. Fig. 16 is a detail View of a certain torch used in connection with this invention. Fig. 17 is a detail of certain parts ofthe safety -device used in (bonnet-- tion with the acetylene generator. Fig. 18 1s a side elevation partly in section of such a safety device. Fig. 19 is a plan view of the safety device. l Fig. 20 1s a section through a valve used in connection with the safety device. Fig. 21 is a detail view `partly `in section of a certain stop pin and itshousing. Fig. 22 is a similar view to Fig. 21 but taken at right angles thereto. Fig. 23 is a detail perspective of a cap used in connection with the safety device. Fig. is av horizontal section through the stop pin showing aV portion of the arm of the safety device.

The improved fuel generating plant is of special utility in the production of acetylene gas and oxygen for use in connection with the type of welding torches shown in Fig. 18 of the accompanying drawings, and which forms the subject-matter of Letters Patent No. 976,717 granted to me November 22, 1910. Said torch, which is designated generally by the numeral 20 is provided with an internal chamber to which oxygen and acetylene pipes 21 and 22, respectively, deliver the fuel, and said fuel is intimately mixed in said chamber and discharges from and is ignited atfthe burner end of said torch. The torch 20 is shown as one of the ,many types of tools which may be used in connection with this invention, and it is to be understood, of course, that this invention is not to bey limited any tool.`

Theimproved fuel producing plant comprises an acetylene tank 23 that is rigidly secured to a platforrn24, said tank being to use in connection with preferably cylindrical and havingA a raised bottom `25. Akithlower portion, the tank 23 lis provided wi a clean-out opening 26 from which an internally-threaded tube 27 projects laterally. An externally-threaded plugl 28 is employed for sealing tube 27 and said plug carries a flanged cap 29 that tits snugly over the outer end of tube 27 and abats an external annular shoulder 3() carried by said tube.- A gasket 31 is interposed between said cap 29 'andthe outer end of tube 27 and to facilitate the necessary manipulation 'of the plug 28, lto seat or unseat the same, Athe cap 29 thereof is equipped with a hand grip 32, preferably in the form of a wheel. At an intermediate point, the

`tank` `23 is .provided with-an opening '33 from which an elbow y34 projects outwardly. Said elbow 34 carries a trap 35 which forms a liquid seal to prevent air entering the tank 23, and from said trap, a vertically-arranged pipe 36 projects, the upper end of which carries a valve casing 37. The valve casing 37 has its inlet end provided with a couling sleeve 38 into which a tunnel 39 projects for the charging of tank 23 with water. As will be obvious, the funnel 89 is but one of the many ways in which water can be poured into pipe 36 for the coupling sleeve 38 is capable of being used in connection -with any type of tubular water-conveying devices.'

A flanged cover 40 is rigidly fastened in g overlapping gas-tight relation to the upper edge of the tank 23, and said cover is providedlwith a central, internally-threaded opening 41.` A carbid receptacle 42 is provided with an external circumferential threaded portion 43`for engaging thethr'eaded opening 41 of cover 40, and also with an outstanding annular iiange 44 to overlap and seal the joint between the threads of said opening and receptacle gas-tight. The

receptacle 42 has its lower lportion projecting well into the tank 23 and terminates in a conical neck 45 provided with a discharge tube 46, the base of which carries an inwardly-projecting annular valve seat 47 that is beveled. The upper end of receptacle 42 projects well above the cover 40. 'The receptacle 42 is provided with a central opening 48 and this opening also extends through a boss 49 which is externally threaded. A packing gland or stutling box 50 is fitted in opening 48` and tube 49. Said gland is provided with a gasket 51 that is seated .in a recess 52 at the inner end of opening 48. An

internally-threaded cap 53 engages the threads of tube 49 and is provided with a central opening that'alines with the opening -hook of a handle 61 that is preferably Vformed with a substantially triangular handgrip 62. A spring 62a is coiled about rod 55, one end thereof bearing on head 56 and the other end bearing on cap 53 so that said rod 60455 is normally retained in an outwardly-projected position. The lower end of Arodv55 is Within receptacle 42 and terminates in an eye 63, that has a swiveled engagement with an eye 64 of a valve stem 65. The lower 65 end ofstem 65 is threaded and projects through the neck 66 of a hollow conical valve 67 that has its upper end provided with a head block 68 which said stem engages. A lock nut 69 is employed f'or clamping neck 66 to the stem 65.

As ,is clearly shown in Fig. 2, the valve 67 is normally held to seat 47 by the tension of spring 62a, and it will be vclear that when carbid is to be fed from receptacle 42 to the water in the tank 23, said valve 67 is forced from its seat by pulling down on handle 61,

and when said handle is released, the spring 62a automatically restores the valve to its scat so that the outlet end of receptacle 42 will be sealed. It will also be seen that the described manner of fiexibly conncctingthe rod 55 to the valve stein 65, permits thevalvc.

stem to have rocking movements relative to .said rod so that the rocking movements of the valve stem incidental to the operations of the valve .vill not cause the rod 55 to bind in the stuiing box.

A cylindrical washing tank- 68 is rigidly fastened to platform 24 and is arranged ver-v tically and in proximity to the acetylene tank 23. The tank 68 is preferably smaller in diameter and of less length than the tank 23 and is provided with a raised bottom 69. At the lower portion, tank 68 is provided wit-l1 a clean-out opening 70 from which a tube 71 projects that is provided with a controlling valve 72. At an intermediate point, tank 68 is provided with an opening 73 from which a filling pipe 74 projects. The upper end of pipe 74 is provided with a controlling valve 75, the casing of which is equipped with a coupling sleeve 76 in which a funnel 77 or'other means that will facilitate the passage of water is seated. A flange cover 78 is fitted gas-tight over the upper endl of tank 68 and is provided with a threaded opening 79. An externally threaded sleeve 80 is jitted in opening 79 and is provided lwith a flanged outer end 81, between which and the cover 78 a sealing gasket 82 is interposed. The cover 78 is provided with another opening 83 that is equipped with a flange sleeve 84 and gasket 85 which are similar in all respects to the opening 79, sleeve 80, flange 81 and gasket 82. An externally threaded inlet pipe 86 projects through sleeve 80 and its lower end terminates adjacent the bottom of tank 68. The outer portion of pipe 86 is provided with a sealing fiange 87 that rests on the end flange 81 of saidvpipe 86. Pipe 86 has its upper end coupled to the casing of a safety valve 88. A discharge tube 89 projects from the cover 40 of tank 23 and a pressure gage 90 is carried by tube'89. A discharge pipe 91 ext-ends through the cover of tank 68. Said pipe 91 has its lower end arranged above the water level in tank 68 and its upper end, which projects above the tcp of tank 68, has

pipe connections 92 with valve controlled outlets 93 which are adapted to have hose or be seen that this invention provides simple manually-ope`rable means for feeding the carbid to the tank 23 to generate the gas and also simple means whereby the gas is thoroughly Washed before being delivered to the Welding tool.

As has been stated before, the improved fuel producing plant includes means for producing oxygen as Well as acetylene gas,-

so that the oxygen and acetylene can be separately delivered to the welding tool and intimately mixed in said tool. The oxygen producer forming a part ofv this invention Will now be described.

The oxygen is generated in av cylindrical retort 94 that is horizontally supported in the concaved seats 95 carried by the arched legs 96 which have their flat bases 97 rigidly fastened to the platform 24. Tie bars 98 encircle the retort 94 and rigidly fasten the same to the seats 95. Transverse bars 99 connect the legs 96 and serve as supports to retain the burners 100, or other source of heat, beneath the retort 94. A hood 101 incloses the retort and the source of heat in spaced relation and is provided with upperfopenings 102 for the escape of the products of combustion. The rear end of the retort; is externally threaded and an internally threaded flanged cap 103 is employed for sealing said rear end. The forward end of the retort 94 has its edge providedxwith longitudinallyextending threaded openings 104 which are engaged by the bolts 105 that pass through the flange 106 of a cover plate 107 to cause said plate to seal the forward end of the retort. `A gasket 108 is interposed between the flange 106 and the forward end of the retort. `Retort 94 is pro vided with a discharge pipe 109 that is fitted gas-tight in its upper portion. Pipe 109 projects through and above hood 101 and its upper end is suitably coupled to a connecting pipe 110 which is in turn coupled to the inlet pipe 111 that enters a Washing tank 112 through the top thereof. It is to be noted that this retort is to be charged with some material capable of producing oxygen when heat is applied thereto as for instance potassium chlorate KClO) which,

when heated decomposes into otassium chlorid and oxygen (KCl--30). Tank 112.

is preferably the same in construction as tank 68 and the discharge pipe 113 of tank lreceptacle 42 is avoided. This sa 112 is suitably coupled to a connecting pipe 114 which. in turn is coupled to an inlet tube 115 of a storage tank 116. The storage tank 116 is preferably the same in size and shape as' the tank 23. A pressure gage 118 is car- Friedby tube 11'5, and the cover of tank 116 is provided with a discharge tube 119 from which the pipes 120 project and which carry valve-controlled outlets 121 which are adapted for hose or other flexible connections with the oxygen pipe or pipes 22, such as is shown in connection with the torch 20.

The pipes 111 and 114 are preferably equipped with check valves for pre-ventingr back flow of the fuel. The type of valve employed is shown in detail in Figs. 15 and 16, and by referring thereto it will be seen that said valve comprises a casing 122 provided With a central, transversely-arranged perforated partition 123. Said partition is provided with a reinforced central portion 124 having a guide opening 125 formedthrough it. A valve stem 126 is slidable through opening 125 and carries a disk, or other type of valve 128 adapted to engage a seat 129 in the inlet end of casing 122. A spring 130 is coiled about stem 126, one end thereof bearing against the valve 128 and the other 'end bearing against the lcenter of the partition 123. As will be obvious, the tension of spring 130 is being con-` stantly exerted tol retain the valve 128.to its seat 129, but the pressure of the incoming oxygen is sufficient to overcome the tension of spring 130 so that the valve is' retained open and the oxygen flows through the casing 122. In the event of a back-flow of the oxygen, it will be clear that said valve will be quickly seated and thereby seal the inlet end ofthe casing 122. l

The carbidv receptacle 42 is provided with a filling opening that is normally sealed by a plug 131. The head of the plug is preferably nut-shaped. In connection with the plug 131 `which controls the charging of the receptacle 42, the invention provides means whereby the safety valve 88 is operated if an attempt is made to remove the said plug so that the gas Will be conveyed through a pipe 132 to a distance from theplant so that 1 danger of an explosion being caused by gas escaping through the filling openin of the fety device comprises a band 133 that encircles the receptacle 42 and carries a laterally-projecting supporting arm 134, one longitudinal edge of which is provided with a recess 135. A valve operating' rod 136 has a pivotal connection 136a with the free end portion of arm 134. Rod 136 has an upwardly-project ing portion 137 from which an arm 1 38 projects over the top of receptacle 42 and has its other end ,provlded with a cap 139 that is open at one end. Cap 139 normally incloses the4 nut-shaped head of plug 131 so that iii order to remove said plug, it will be necessary to rock rod 136 on itspivotal connection with arm 134 so that cap 139 will uncover .said plug. The free end :of rod 136 has a 1 the lower portion of the bolt below the base p with a hand grip 14.6 by means of whichv -recess 135 to release "rod v136. By employing the ,described safety de of the housing so that said bolt will engage therecess 135 of arm 134'to lockthe rod 136 to said arm. Said bolt 143 is provided said'bolt may .be manually removed from vice, it will be seen that before plug 131 can be removed from the-iilling opening, rod 136 must be released' from arm 134 and then swung on its pivotal connection with said arm to remove cap 139 fromsaid plug, and said rod 136 being connected to the operati.-

-ing lever of the safety valve 88, itwwill be clear'that the' swinging movement of said rodwill, cause said lever to open the said lvalve s'b that the gas will pass out of the tank 23 and be conveyed to a distant point by pipe 132 before the plug 131 can be removed. In this application the oxygen and gas generators are not specifically claimed for the reason that the same are to form the' subject-matter of separate applications. Said. applications are: acetylene generator led MayV 13th, 1911, Serial No. 627,018; and

oxygen generator filed May 13th, 1911,

Serial No. 627,016.

What I claim as my invention is A In combination with a' welding tool provided with an oxygen inlet and an acetylene inlet; an oxy-acetylene generating plant comprising an oxygen generator, a washer, a pipe connection between said generator and washer, opening to permit a iow of gas to said washer, a storage tank, a pi e connection between said storage tan and washer, a pressure gage thereon, a discharge pipe leading from said tank, a delivery noazle adapted for hose connection with said tool on the last mentioned pipe, an acetylene generator, an acetylene washer, a pipe connection between the generator and washer, a safety valve in the last-mentioned pipe connection, a safety pipe leading from` said safety valve toa point remote from said generator, said generator beingl 'provided with carbid charging opening, a closure for said opening, means to operate the safety valve covering said closure, check valves in the aforesaid pipe connections to prevent vlash back, a pressure gage on the last mentioned pipe connection, a pipe leading from said acetylene washer, and a valve carried by said last-mentioned pipe., said pipe being provided with means adapted for connection t0 a hose to connect said weldingy tool.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NEWTON J. ANDERSON. I Witnesses:

e F. E. PARENT,

FRANK E. WHITSEL. 

